Another event that will become ‘ristaan’ or an oral tradition took place yesterday as residents o’f Tutong District and visitors converged to welcome His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The Get-Together and Junjung Ziarah with the citizens and rakyat in conjunction with His Majesty’s 69th Birthday celebrations took place at the Tutong Civic Centre Complex Field.
The presence of thousands young and old since early morning at the Civic Centre Complex Field reflected the excitement of the people to meet their ruler and the strong bond of love between the Monarch and them. Tutong District was the first to hold the series of similar Get-Together and Junjung Ziarah in the country’s four districts.
Upon arriving, His Majesty was welcomed by Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, the Minister of Home Affairs, as the Chairman of His Majesty’s Birthday Celebrations National Committee, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major (Rtd) General, Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi Bin Haji Muhammad Yussof, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Awang Wardi bin Haji Muhammad Ali, the Tutong District Officer.
Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
The three cheers of ‘Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik’ by Penghulu Mukim, as well as Village and Longhouse Chiefs in the Tutong District echoed, signifying their continuous and undivided loyalty to His Majesty.
His Majesty’s strong leadership, great vision and integrity, based on the unique Bruneian mould has made the country a special, outstanding and exemplary Muslim nation. The Monarch is very caring towards the people and that concern has manifested itself in many forms including His Majesty’s consent to personally work and ensure the people’s interests are top priorities.
The words were expressed by Awang Wardi bin Haji Muhammad Ali, the Tutong District Officer in his address of Kesyukuran or gratitude and loyalty that also outlined the various developments and progress in the district under His Majesty’s leadership.
The Get-Together was enlivened by special field performances involving primary and secondary school students, government officers and staff, Tutong ethnic groups and community, Mukim and Village Consultative Councils members, Associations, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and voluntary bodies in the district.
The energetic, cheerful and colourful performances carried the theme, “Raja Berwawasan Negara Cemerlang”, or ‘A Monarch With Vision, A Nation of Excellence’. The theme portrays a strong and caring Monarch as the catalyst of national development and people’s prosperity.
The strong and pure Bruneian identity covering trustworthiness, honesty, efficiency and loyalty to Allah the Almighty that is coherent with the aspiration of the Zikir nation was among the subject of the performance.
Entrepreneurship is a catalyst to national economic growth. As the world faces the current economic challenges, the country’s citizens and residents need to strengthen their commitment to build and develop themselves to ensure long term sustainability. This was also portrayed in the performances.
The performances also displayed the country’s hope for a strong and visionary generation as heirs of the nation’s greatness and glory to achieve further development and progress. The show also displayed the activities of voluntary and uniformed groups that would create a Brunei generation of high morals, vision and integrity.
The cheers of ‘Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patek’ by 569 participants ended the Special Field Performance. His Majesty’s consent to grace the event symbolised the strong unity among the people who live in peace and harmony under the leadership of a loving and caring people’s monarch.